Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Rapid Screening for the Nephrotoxic and Hepatotoxic Effects of Microcystins

In vivo visualization of kidney and liver damage by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) may offer an advantage when there is a need for a simple, non-invasive and rapid method for screening of the effects of potential nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic substances in chronic experiments. Here, we used MRI for monitoring chronic intoxication with microcystins (MCs) in rat. Male adult Wistar rats were treated every other day for eight months, either with MC-LR (10 μg/kg i.p.) or MC-YR (10 μg/kg i.p.). Control groups were treated with vehicle solutions. T₁-weighted MR-images were acquired before and at the end of the eight months experimental period. Kidney injury induced by the MCs presented with the increased intensity of T₁-weighted MR-signal of the kidneys and liver as compared to these organs from the control animals treated for eight months, either with the vehicle solution or with saline. The intensification of the T1-weighted MR-signal correlated with the increased volume density of heavily injured tubuli (R² = 0.77), with heavily damaged glomeruli (R² = 0.84) and with volume density of connective tissue (R² = 0.72). The changes in the MR signal intensity probably reflect the presence of an abundant proteinaceous material within the dilated nephrons and proliferation of the connective tissue. T₁-weighted MRI-is a valuable method for the in vivo screening of kidney and liver damage in rat models of intoxication with hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic agents, such as microcystins.     

Pedotransfer functions for estimating the field capacity and permanent wilting point in the critical zone of the Loess Plateau,China

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Field capacity (FC) and permanent wilting point (PWP) are important physical properties for evaluating the available soil water storage, as well as being used as...     

Estimating the field capacity and permanent wilting point at the regional scale for the Hexi Corridor in China using a state-space modeling approach

Journal of Soils and Sediments - The field capacity (FC) and permanent wilting point (PWP) are important soil hydraulic properties that determine the maximum available water for plants, and they...     

Sedimentological and geochemical characterization of river suspended particulate matter (SPM) sampled by time-integrated mass flux sampler (TIMS) in the Sava River (Croatia)

Purpose

Suspended particulate matter (SPM) plays a crucial role in the transport of natural and anthropogenic substances. However, obtaining a representative sample and a substantial amount of SPM in rivers, where the flux and quantity of SPM are highly episodic, can be a challenging task. To collect a sufficient quantity of SPM for detailed sedimentological and geochemical analysis, a time-integrated mass flux sampler (TIMS) was used for the sampling in a medium size river (the Sava River, Croatia).

Materials and methods

Sampling was conducted in August and October 2014, and February and May 2015 under different discharge conditions. The SPM collected by TIMS was characterized with respect to its particle size distribution (PSD), mineral content, and geochemical composition.

Results and discussion

PSD analysis identified silt as a dominant size fraction in all samples except in May 2015 when sand prevailed; subsequent chemical dispersion of samples revealed flocculation as the main factor responsible for the resulting PSD. The mineralogical composition of the SPM was quite constant (quartz, calcite, dolomite, feldspar, illite/muscovite, kaolinite), but the contribution of particular mineral varied depending on the sampling period. In May 2015, unusually high calcite content was determined. Though the dominant source is still uncertain, a portion of calcite is likely detrital in origin. Geochemical analyses of collected material revealed significant anthropogenic input of ecotoxic elements (Ni, As, Cr, Pb, Bi, Cd, Zn, Sb) primarily associated with the fine fraction of the Sava River SPM.

Conclusions

A considerable amount of the SPM was collected by TIMS, both during high and low river discharge. Sedimentological analyses of the Sava River SPM suggested the input of material from various sources during different river regimes. Geochemical composition of the SPM followed its sedimentological characteristics—preferential adsorption of trace elements to fine-grained clay mineral particles was documented. Some processes inside TIMS were observed during this investigation—the suspended material captured inside the sampler underwent additional changes. The flocculation of the colloidal material instigated by algal bloom was observed.

     

移栽期对甘肃中部党参生长发育及产量的影响

探究移栽期对黄土高原半干旱区党参生长发育和产量的影响,以期为区域党参高产栽培提供理论依据。于2020年在甘肃省定西市进行党参分期移栽试验,设置3个移栽期,以传统移栽期为对照（CK,4月1日移栽）,设置较传统移栽期推迟5 d（T₁,4月6日移栽）和10 d（T₂,4月11日移栽）处理,并对不同移栽期党参生长发育、生物量积累特征和产量进行分析。结果表明,不同处理分枝期出现时间差异最大,T₂较CK、T₁分别推迟5、2 d,移栽期推迟,生长期缩短,参根进入快速生长的时间提前,起始生长势(C₀)增大,T₂较CK、T₁分别提高24.72%和6.65%;生长渐增期持续时间随移栽期的推迟而缩短,快增期持续时间差别不大;T₁处理参根平均生长速率(V_a)较CK、T₂分别提高3.73%、2.45%,快增期干物质积累量和生长速率均最高;地上生物量最大生长速率(MGR)表现为T₂>T₁>CK,T₂较CK、T₁分别提高17.29%、10.46%,C₀和V_a均最大,T₂处理C₀较CK、T₁分别提高7.74%、10.32%,V_a增幅分别为19.67%、12.30%;移栽期推迟,地上部不同生长期生长持续时间缩短,干物质积累量和积累速率增大,产量增加,CK、T₁、T₂处理产量分别为257.67、306.68、524.90 g/m²,T₂较CK、T₁分别增加104%、72%。研究结果可为黄土高原半干旱区党参优质栽培,提高气候资源利用率提供参考。     

Intercropping with hyperaccumulator plants decreases the cadmium accumulation in grape seedlings

In this experiment, four cadmium (Cd) hyperaccumulator species (Crassocephalum crepidioides, Galinsoga parviflora, Sigesbeckia orientalis, and Solanum nigrum) were intercropped with grape (Vitis vinifera) cuttings together in Cd-containated soil to study the effects of intercropping with the Cd-hyperaccumulator plants on growth and Cd accumulation of grape seedlings. Compared with the monoculture, intercropping with S. nigrum increased the biomass of grape seedlings, but intercropping with the other three hyperaccumulator species decreased the grape seedling biomass. Intercropping with S. nigrum increased chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll contents in leaves of grape seedlings compared with the monoculture, whereas intercropping with the other three hyperaccumulator species showed either a decrease or no effect. Intercropping with hyperaccumulator plants had no significant effects on chlorophyll b and carotenoid contents in leaves of grape seedlings compared with the monoculture. Compared with the monoculture, intercropping with C. crepidioides, G. parviflora, S. nigrum and S. orientalis significantly decreased Cd contents in shoots of grape seedlings by 78.7%, 12.7%, 29.8% and 26.5%, respectively. Therefore, intercropping with hyperaccumulator plants can decrease Cd accumulation in grape, and intercropping with S. nigrum can also promote grape seedling growth.     

黄土丘陵沟壑区第二副区山坡地土壤侵蚀特征研究

在广泛收集资料的基础上,对黄土丘陵沟壑区第二副区山坡地土壤侵蚀特征以往的研究结论进行了综合分析,结果表明:(1)影响该区山坡地土壤侵蚀的主要因素为降雨、地形及土地利用.(2)该区山坡地土壤侵蚀主要类型为水蚀,主要方式为溅蚀、片蚀、细沟及浅沟侵蚀.(3)该区多年平均侵蚀模数为8373t/km²,其中以坡度大于25°的耕地和植被盖度小于10%的荒草地侵蚀强度最大,年侵蚀模数为18000t/km²,坡度为15～25°的耕地及植被盖度为10%～30%的林草地年侵蚀模数分别为15000t/km²和12000t/km².     

黄土高原降雨因素对土壤侵蚀的影响

根据调查和模拟降雨试验资料分析,黄土高原地区降雨是影响土壤侵蚀的最重要因素之一。水土流失主要是由少数几次大雨或暴雨所引起,大多数的降雨一般不产生地表径流;能够引起水土流失的土壤侵蚀暴雨标准随雨强和历时而异;ＥＩ３０是较适用的降雨侵蚀力指标,各种降雨特征值具有明显的空间分布规律。     

鸡产蛋下降综合症油乳剂灭活苗的免疫及攻毒保护试验

对应用当地分离病毒株研制的鸡产蛋下降综合症系列油乳剂灭活苗进行了免疫试验。结果表明,免疫后,鸡产蛋下降综合症（ＥＤＳ７６）油乳剂灭活苗、鸡新城疫（ＮＤ）－产蛋下降综合症二联油乳剂灭活苗及鸡新城疫－鸡传染性支气管炎（ＩＢ）－产蛋下降综合症三联油乳剂灭活苗免疫组的血清ＥＤＳ７６ＨＩ抗体迅速上升,维持４个月后仍在６．８－８（ｌｏｇ２）以上,并且能够抵抗强毒的攻击。证明所研制的ＥＤＳ７６油苗、ＮＤ－ＥＤＳ７６二联油苗、ＮＤ－ＩＢ－ＥＤＳ７６三联油苗对ＥＤＳ７６具有良好的免疫作用,能够抵抗ＥＤＳ７６强毒的攻击并产生高而持久的血清ＨＩ抗体。此外,对ＮＤ－ＥＤＳ７６二联苗、ＮＤ－ＩＢ－ＥＤＳ７６三联苗免疫组的血清ＮＤＨＩ抗体测定结果表明,上述二联苗、三联苗能产生与接种ＮＤ油苗一样良好的ＮＤ免疫效果,在免疫后１３０天时,其血清ＨＩ抗体仍高达９－１１（ｌｏｇ２）以上,与对照组有极显著的差异     

甜菜碱对肉鸡肉质的影响及其作用机理

选用216 羽29 日龄艾维茵肉鸡进行饲养试验,研究不同剂量(500 m g/kg,1 000 m g/kg)甜菜碱对肉鸡肉质的影响。通过屠宰取样测定肝脏、肌肉内肌酸和游离肉碱含量及肌细胞内脂肪酸β-氧化反应等生化指标,探讨其作用机理。结果表明,在饲粮中添加1 000 m g/kg 甜菜碱显著改善了肉质,肌肉中肌酸、肌苷酸和肌红蛋白含量较对照组(不添加甜菜碱)分别增加了17.28% (P< 0.01),26.92% (P<0.01)和9.15% (P< 0.05)。此外,肝脏肌酸和游离肉碱含量分别升高了 8.38% (P< 0.05)和10.94%(P< 0.01);肌肉总酸不溶肉碱(长链脂酰肉碱)含量及其与游离肉碱比值分别增高了24.14% (P< 0.01)和15.69% (P< 0.01);血清游离脂肪酸浓度提高了22.16% (P< 0.01)。